How to repair a corrupt windows explorer?

I have a older Dell computer running XP Home and no XP Disk and
windows explorer has become corrupt and I can not view my files
and when I try it locks up my computer. My other programs work
OK. I assume there is a hidden partition with these files but I don't
know how to access or go about trying to repair windows explorer.
Most of searches I've found say to use a XP disk. I do have a friend
who has a XP pro disk will this work on a home installation? Any
suggestion would be appreciated.

Jerry

PS I downloaded a program called Explorer ++ and I can access my
files so I'm sure it windows explorer that is corrupt.

Do you have an antivirus and antimalware program & have you run them?
Do you have any idea how windows explorer became unusable?
Does the inability to use windows explorer persist even after a system reboot?
What service pack version of Windows XP do you have?
Also note the exact make and model of your Dell.

OK. I assume there is a hidden partition with these files but I don't
know how to access or go about trying to repair windows explorer.

Type "diskmgmt.msc" without the quotes into the run box. This will bring up a graphical
representation of your hard drive's partitions. See if you can paste an image here for us to see.
Type " eventvwr.msc" without the quotes into the run box. This will bring up the event veiwer.
Attempt to locate any errors related to the windows explorer shell.

Just one other note as I'm trying your suggestions, I had two other old user accounts
I had set up and I checked them and windows explorer worked in them. The only other
thing I could think of was (fast-browser-search-toolbar) showed up right about time I
started having problems and I'm trying to get rid of it, so maybe that is problem. I'll keep
trying, thanks for tips.

A Google search for this toolbar shows some removal methods. This points out the need for carefully reading all entries when you are installing any freeware. Quite often these various toolbars come packaged with free apps and you must opt out or you will get the added toolbar you don't want or need. These toolbars do not just appear.

Misread topic of post

Poster asked about WINDOWS EXPLORER, not INTERNET EXPLORER.
The former, also known as 'MyComputer', is by far the most-used applet on most machines, for the best of reasons: it is functional and utilitarian; the latter, by contrast, is at best a controversial, problem-plagued excrescence of historical and much-deserved BAD REP.
Poster might be well advised to try typing 'sfc/scannow' into the RUN box to have windows verify, and if necessary restore many system files.